312. Writing Stations

Brave Writer

Julie Bogart and Melissa Wiley

Arts, Kids & Family, Education, Books, Education For Kids

4.8 • 927 Ratings

🗓️ 5 November 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Julie Bogart and Melissa Wiley return with a heartwarming episode all about writing stations---simple, inviting setups that help kids discover the joy of putting pen to paper. Inspired by Melissa's son Steven, who has turned letter-writing into an art form, the hosts explore how authentic writing can become a beloved ritual rather than a chore.

From Steven's letters to UPS and Paula's Choice to the treasure of handwritten notes to grandparents, Julie and Melissa show how writing stations make real-world communication accessible, beautiful, and meaningful. They share easy ways to stock materials---stationery, stamps, pens, and postcards---and ideas for turning everyday writing into connection, gratitude, and delight.

This episode celebrates handwriting as an act of love and self-expression, reminding parents that the goal isn't perfect penmanship---it's the human touch of words sent out into the world.

Topics discussed include:

How one homeschooler's letters sparked joy and community
Creating low-stress writing stations at home
Letter writing as real-world language arts
Why small gestures of gratitude matter
The enduring beauty of paper, pens, and stamps

Resources:

Unfortunately, “Murph” (Melissa’s source for old stamps) is no longer selling online. But don’t miss these Goodnight Moon stamps at USPS! (The new Baby Wild Animal forever stamps are adorable too)
Visit our “Tools for the Art of Writing” page in the Brave Writer Book Shop
Fall class registration is open!
Visit Julie’s Substack to find her special podcast for kids (and a lot more!)
Purchase Julie’s new book, Help! My Kid Hates Writing
Brave Learner Home
Learn more about the Brave Writer Literature & Mechanics programs
Start a free trial of CTCmath.com to try the math program that’s sure to grab and keep your child’s attention
Subscribe to Julie’s Substack newsletters, Brave Learning with Julie Bogart and Julie Off Topic, and Melissa’s Catalog of Enthusiasms
Sign up for our Text Message Pod Ring to get podcast updates and more!
Send us podcast topic ideas by texting us: +1 (833) 947-3684

Connect with Julie:

Connect with Melissa:

Produced by NOVA

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Looking for a great math program?
0:03.0	CTC Math provides online video tutorials that make learning math easy and effective
0:10.0	by using creative graphics and animation that are sure to grab and keep your child's attention.
0:16.0	Here's a great testimonial from Lori.
0:18.0	She said one day my 10-year-old was in tears over math.
0:23.6	I tried my best to help, but I ended up in tears as well. That very night, I received
0:29.0	an email offer for CTC Math. The following Monday, we reviewed the curriculum together.
0:35.8	She was willing to give it a shot, and we have never looked back.
0:39.3	Start your free trial today by visiting ctcmath.com.
0:48.3	Well, hello, hello, Melissa Wiley.
0:52.3	Hello, Julie Bogart. How are you? Oh, I'miley. Hello, Julie Bogart.
0:54.7	How are you?
0:55.9	Oh, I'm good.
0:57.8	Hello to everyone tuning in.
0:59.7	Welcome back to Brave Writers' podcast.
1:02.8	We love seeing you or talking to you every single week.
1:07.4	Thank you for all the shares and all the reviews and all of the love.
1:08.7	I don't know about you, Melissa.
1:10.7	Do you hear from our listeners? Because I do on a regular
1:12.6	basis. They're telling me what was meaningful, how they applied, what they learned, and it just
1:18.8	means a lot that you take the time to tell us. It does mean a lot. I get emails and they just
1:24.7	warm my heart and make my day. Yeah, and thank you for sharing with your friends.
	...

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